Reset of US relationship with African continent
US SECRETARY of State Antony Blinken’s whirlwind visit to three African countries is the second in less than 12 months.
In 2021 he visited key US regional partners Senegal, Kenya and Nigeria.
In South Africa, Blinken unveiled the US Strategy Toward Sub- Saharan Africa, marking a paradigmatic shift in America’s engagement with Africa.
Why a paradigmatic shift? First, it sets a positive tone for US engagement with Africa. Previous US strategies began from the premise that Africa was not a strategic actor in the broad scheme of American foreign policy.
This strategy is different. It starts from the assumption that Africa is a core priority of US foreign policy – a fundamental commitment to working together to advance a shared agenda.
The tone is matched by the emphasis on African agency. And the ability of the continent to lead and participate effectively in economic, political and military engagement decisions.
But, first some reflections on Blinken’s three- country visit.
The visit to South Africa underscored US interest in re- engaging the South African government within the context of the US- South Africa Strategic Dialogue framework. It provides a forum for both partners to review common aspirations and objectives while also addressing persisting disagreements.
South Africa is one of the few African countries with this kind of strategic partnership with the US. The forum therefore reinforces South Africa as an African actor that Washington takes seriously. This is despite differences which both should manage amicably.
Hopefully, the Blinken delegation may have had the opportunity to raise concerns about the instability and disarray in the governing ANC coalition. This has had a detrimental impact on South Africa’s stature in foreign policy. In Africa and globally.
In the DRC and Rwanda, Blinken will confront the conflicts in the region, consigning it to global marginality. It is going to require US diplomatic dexterity and a sustained economic and political re- commitment to resolve this 30- year- old crisis. But Blinken is bound to face opposition from some key players .
In terms of the paradigm shift, the strategy outlined by Blinken has four key objectives – fostering open societies; delivering democratic and security dividends; advancing pandemic recovery and economic opportunity; and supporting conservation, climate adaptation and just energy transition.
An innovative idea is the involvement of the US International Development Agency ( USAID) on the education front – US academic institutions and the private sector providing online courses for African students. Subjects could include science, technology, engineering and Maths ( STEM). The strategy emphasises digital democracy and incorporation of African American diaspora in US- Africa relations.
Sensitivities to race play a dominant role in the strategy, reflective of the convergence of Africanists and African Americans in the Biden administration and its Africa policy. Throughout the document, people of colour is placed at the heart of US- Africa relations.
Equally germane, the strategy acknowledges past criticisms of US training and support for African militaries that launch coups against civilian regimes and abuse human rights.
Finally, the strategy is cleverly articulated to undercut critics who often invoke US competition with China and Russia in Africa as the main driver of engagement with Africa. The strategy, instead of being prescriptive, presents African states with the enticing option of working with the US in the advancement of common values, mutual respect, democracy, and prosperity. The strategy is a fresh beginning in US- Africa relations.
But its outcomes will be judged by the Biden administration’s ability to negotiate implementation in the fractious US political process; and if African countries will seize the opportunities that the strategy presents? The December Africa- US summit in Washington will be a chance to gauge responses to this strategy.